Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Are we supposed to look like either Princess Diana or Kate Winslet or Aiswarya Rai?


The Holy Bible says that we all human beings have been uniquely carved in the mould of our heavenly father. The colours of our skin, the texture of our hair, the length of our nose are all what makes us different. But what we see is a growing trend in the society to spend unreasonable amounts on cosmetic surgery and other procedures that promise enhancement of personal appearance. I can understand as well as I do endorse the corrective aesthetic treatments like putting braces on teeth or rectifying cleft chin/lip and other distortions that is glaring and that would cause a psychological distress if not addressed. What I feel uncomfortable is the growing number of advertisements that conveys the message that looking good is tantamount to success in life. And that explains why people are desperate to defy ageing through many costly treatments which are seldom validated and thus jeopardise their health in the quest for vanity. There are also a large number of doctors who have been lured to this lucrative arena from their conventional specializations. Thus the expertise of doctors is wasted on something which doesn't improve the health of people; the opportunity cost being the services the doctor could have rendered to people otherwise.

Well, those who can afford to can always avail of such procedures. I am in no capacity to question that. But what troubles me is the message that is conveyed deliberately. I ardently think that we should ward off such negative thoughts from being permeated into the public psyche. Other wise it would really demoralise those who are not that financially or aesthetically advantaged. It calls for us to reflect upon our ethics as to how we value another person, by his looks or character. Whether what I am is what you see outside or what is within me. We need to educate our posterity as well as enlighten ourselves.